Farm Crisis Toolkit

NFU Partner Toolkit

American family farmers and ranchers in the midst of a farm crisis, and there is no end in sight. NFU has heard many stories of hardship and stress impacting our members’ communities. In response, we’re highlighting the impact of the declining farm economy on family farmers and ranchers, and we’re providing a resource center for those struggling financially during these tough times.

We could use your help spreading the word.

Ways you can help:

Increase awareness of the problem.

Share the infographic, graphics, and talking points in your publications and on social media.

Ask your members and/or staff to blog about the issue.

Document issues facing family farmers and ranchers.

Promote the listening sessions happening in your state.

Record stories or common issues confronting farmers.

Ask your members to share their stories with NFU.

Please distribute this toolkit throughout your network.

This Toolkit Contains:

We greatly appreciate any help you can provide. If you have any questions or suggestions, or would like a copy of the NFU logo for your communications, please contact Andrew Jerome at ajerome@nfudc.org.

Farm Crisis Talking Points

Net farm income is forecast to decline by 8.7 percent in 2017, to $62.3 billion, in the fourth consecutive year of declines.

The 2017 debt-to-asset ratio is the highest the agriculture industry has seen in three decades.

A recent Kansas City Federal Reserve report shows that farm lending has dropped by 40 percent from a year ago, the largest decline in 20 years.

Agricultural lenders are increasing interest and collateral requirements to loan terms due to the heightened risk.

Nearly 90 percent of agricultural lenders have seen an overall decline in farm profitability in the last 12 months.

Farm debt is forecast to increase by 5.2 percent, while farm asset values are forecast to decline by 1.1 percent in 2017.

Financial liquidity measures, including working capital, are forecast to weaken in 2017, as are solvency measures such as the debt-to-asset ratio.

Farm lending at commercial banks continued to decline in early 2017. The volume of non-real estate farm loans originated in the first quarter declined 16 percent from 2016, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

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Times are tough for American farmers and ranchers. This year, net farm income is forecast to be just half of what it was four years ago, and the lowest it has been in well over a decade. This steep decline, which is not projected to improve any time soon, leaves many farming operations vulnerable and forces farmers to make tough decisions.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the current farm crisis, you aren’t alone. Visit https://farmcrisis.nfu.org/ for more information about the farm crisis and to find resources for financial and legal assistance.

While you’re there, we also ask that you share your own story anonymously, and urge your neighbors to do so as well, so we can inform decision makers about the need for assistance. We will continue to make your voices heard, ensuring that policy makers recognize this problem and act to address it.

Even though you might not know it, your friends and neighbors might be going through tough times and need help. Please share this post so we can reach as many farmers and ranchers as possible, and comment below to let us know your thoughts on the farm crisis.